Airplane



WJHENNING Feb. 10, 1931.

AIRPLANE Filed March 12, 1930 Fl 13. l.

ZIwuwnto L WILLIAM HENNINE -mTE D- STATES Patented Feb.'10, 193i WILLIAM nnnnme, or 'wasnme'rolm nrs rnror. oE'oo UMBIa AIRPLAN a Application filedMarch 12,

My invention relates to airplanes, having for its object to produce a pract cal apparatus of this nature in which it is possible to change the centerof gravity of the machineas a whole in fore and aft directions; and it consists in improvements in the construct-ion andthe combination of certain of the main features of the apparatus, as will be hereinafter pointed out.

Inthe accompanying drawings which are largely diagrammatic in character: 7 Figure 1 is a side view, partly brokenaway, of an airplane of the-hydroplane type.

to which is applied the present invention;

Figure 2 is a top pla-nview of the same;

and Figure 3 is a front view;

Referring to these drawlngs, A designates the fuselage of the machine, it being provided with the usual features of an airplane including those for propelling and for steering. A machine with but a single motor and propeller D has been chosen for purposes of illustration. Thewing frame B may be of usual or approved construction in its main features, that shown being of the biplane type with upper and lower wings I) b. The landing gear is represented as consisting of a palr of pontoons, C. For these, however, might be substituted a wheeled landing gear. The

fuselage is represented as provided with a cockpit E to accommodate a single pilot; but

a in larger machines than that represented, the

fuselage will be provided with an enclosed cabin capable of accommodating two or more operators. The parts sofar described are of well known construction and may be varied from what is indicated in the drawings to a very wide extent, as my invention is applicable to practically all types and kinds of airplanes of present day construction.

In the longitudinal, axial center of the wing frame, there is formed a guide-Way or. frame F located between the upper and lower wings. This guide-way is of a size and shape to permit the fuselage to he slipped through it and to move therein along fore and aft lines.

To support the fuselage within this frame and to permit it to be easily moved there may be provided a plurality of rails G which I i530. Serial N5. 435,157.

have represented as being carried the fuselage," prefer'ably 'atfth'e four corners thereof when it isoffr'ectangular construction a's'represented.- I "This arrangement permits the fuselagef'to be located at the center of'the wing 'frame'yand gives to it practically all round outside support, while permitting it to' be'freely moved,' under the direction or con trol of the; pilot, along fore and aft lines. Various means may beadoptedfor {shifting the wing rmmeand fuselage relative to each other,"that represented, and which I prefer, comprising a longitudinal shaft'I, strongly held in supports J carried by the fuselage. This shaft is provided with athreaded por tionz' that engages with a' nut K,- carried by 1 supports M extending from theguide-frame FL -The walls of the fuselage'are slottedgas indicated at 'N,-to permit the passage of-the supports M and to allow for the relative movement's'of the two, parts of the airplane thefwin'g frame and the fuselage. As ameans for controlling the movements of the shaft '1 andthrough which to control the fore and aft relativemovements of the two frames,a hand wheel L, at "the rear end-of the shaft and 10 I cated withinthe cockpit, is represented. This sh'owingit will beiunderstood, is diagrammatiQ' -and in practice, motor-driven means for turningthe shaft might'be employed in heard the hand wheel. r

Tii It recognized hat oneof the chief'dan gers of aeronautical flight lies in the stalling of-the engine with the incident danger of the line, inthat it provides for the proper and most advantageous location of the fuselage with reference to the wing frame, while at the same time permitting relative longitudinal movements ofthe'se-tw-o -parts,' and also furnishing a; frame arrangem'ent that adds strength to the wingframe and gives full outside support to the fuselage, along lines of considerable extent and that cover the longitudinal center of gravity of the fuselage itself. This I secure by providing a box-like or enclosing frame into Which-the fuselage is inserted, by vwhichit is supportedlland Within which it is movable as hasbeendescribed.

It will be seen that the guidesbetween the fuselage and enclosing frame in which it moves are longer-than the fore and aft'di-men sions of the wings, thus giving to the fuselage exterior support of suflicient length to be practically effective both for and sup ments comprising'a screw shaft under control of the pilot and a nut engaging therewith, these means being supported one by the fuse lage and the other by the surrounding frame. v

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

l/VILLIAM HENNIN lage and furnishing exterior support there a 7 for, thejfuselage being movable in fore andaft directions inside the enclosing frame, and;

meansfor effecting such movement.

2. In an airplane of biplane. construction, a,

wing frame, anindependent fuselage, an enclosing; frame carried by the wing frame and;

located centrally'between the wings thereof,

such enclosing frame surrounding the fusev lage V and furnishing exterior support there.- for, and the fuselage beingmovablein fore and: aft directions, inside. the enclosing frame, and means for effecting such movement.

3. Inan airplane construction, a wing frame, a fuselage, anenclosmg frame carrledf by thewingframeand centrally logjzited-rela-Q tive thereto, such enclosing frame surround ing that portion, of the'fuselageenclosing;the,

center of gravity thereof, the fuselage being independent of the wing a-ndenclosing, frames and-movable on fore and: aft lines therein,

guides located between the enclosing jframe and fuselage giving; exterior support tothe, latter and directing its movements, andmeans for effecting; movementsot; the wing, i 7 frame and; fuselagerelatlve toeach other.

4. In an airplane construction, a, wing f ame, an independent fuselage, n, enclos ng frame carried cent-rally: by tl1e "wing frame surrounding the fuselage, guides carried by; the surrounding frame glVlIlgBXllBllQl, sup

port to thefuselage and-directing its,c-longitudinal movements in said surrounding frame, the guidesbeing;= longer than; the; di.-

mensions of the wings1in,forgandaft'direce tions, and means for effecting; relative fore theIwing frame. e v

5., In an airplane: COHStlIllQtlQIlj; frame,

anda'aft movements. between t-he;fuselag.e;and

a- Wing.

an independent-fuselage, ani enclosi-ng;

frame carried: by the wingfframeqandr sur? rounding the fuselageand;furnishirigexteri: or support therefor,'the fuselage beingimovable inside theenclosing. frame, which Serves to givedirectlon toitsmoveinents onforeand: aftflines, and: meansifor; effecting, suchmove; 

